Attendance

Parents now have the ability to submit attendance reasons through Skyward Family Access instead of calling the school. Attendance can be entered on that day (illness) or for future events (doctor’s appointment). Absences can be recorded for all day, late arrival or early dismissal. Please click here to follow the directions to enter the absence via Skyward.


If you are unable to report an attendance issue via Skyward or reach the Attendance Office through the automated phone line, please e-mail Karen Rallo – krallo@phm.k12.in.us – or Karissa Buckwheat – kbuckwheat@phm.k12.in.us – with attendance matters.

To report your student absence via telephone, please us the user prompts below:

  • Parents or guardians of a Penn student, call 574-258-9501 to report absences.
  • When calling, please briefly provide the student’s full name (always spell the last name), the student’s ID number, the reason for absence or dismissal, and, in case of the need to call back, a contact phone number.

Please listen carefully to the three different Attendance prompts. They are as follows:

  • To report an early dismissal for TODAY, press 1. This would include, for example, an appointment, family emergency, etc., that will take place during the current school day. Include a time for the early dismissal, and the reason.
  • To report a dismissal/absence for a FUTURE DATE, press 2. This would include an appointment, college visit, family event, etc., that would be taking place on a future school day. Please include a date, time and reason for the absence/early dismissal. In the case of a series of appointments, at a particular time and day repeated throughout the school year, contact Attendance Secretary Karen Rallo – krallo@phm.k12.in.us or call 574-254-2828 – to set up a schedule.
  • To report an ILLNESS TODAY or a LATE ARRIVAL TODAY, press 3. Please provide a short comment regarding the illness, i.e. the flu, cold, etc. In the case of a long-term illness, in addition to contacting the attendance office, please contact the student’s counselor and nurse. For reporting a late arrival, please state the reason and approximate time of arrival.
  • If a student is absent for 10 (or more) consecutive school days, please contact Attendance Secretaries Karen Rallo  or Karisa Buckwheat. Per Indiana state policy a doctor’s note is required for a medical absence of 10 days or more.
  • To question an unconfirmed absence, please contact Karen Rallo or Karisa Buckwheat.

Guardians of Penn students may also share information by emailing Penn attendance at: Pennattendance@PHM.k12.in.us.

Students who will be out of school for a college visit will need to bring back to  Penn a note on college letterhead verifying the date. Absences due to Job Shadowing experiences and Youth Leadership events will also need to be verified.

Parents may call up to one month in advance of planned absences/early dismissals.

Doctor’s notes or proof of college visits can be attached.
 
To discuss attendance guidelines, call Karen Rallo at 574-254-2828 OR Karisa Buckwheat at 574-258-9500 ext. 20541.
 
In addition, guardians of Penn students who attend the Elkhart Area Career Center are responsible to report their student’s attendance issues.
Contact Trisha Malone, attendance secretary, 574-262-5650 or tmalone@elkhart.k12.in.us.
 
In addition, EACC offers a new email address: Email: Attendance@elkhart.k12.in.us

Click here for information regarding two-hour delays.